Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 532

After exchanging greetings, we slowly took our seats on chairs across the table.

This young man, who introduced himself as Clarence, was a merchant from Balst.

I had already received a report about him from Chris.

When the Christie Trading Company purchased a group of children who had been slaves in Balst, there was a merchant in Balst who had assisted in the process.

That merchant, I was told, was none other than the 'Clarence' now sitting before me.

"Is something wrong, Lord Lidd? Is there something on my face?"

"Ah, my apologies. It's just that you seem much more approachable than I had heard, so it was a bit unexpected."

That was a lie.

Just as Chris had reported, while he appeared carefree on the surface, his eyes were unmistakably sizing me up.

"Is that so? But I suppose it's mutual, isn't it?"

"Mutual, you say?"

Tilting my head, he narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"Yes. With all due respect, rumors of you, Lord Ridd, have reached even Balst."

"Oh? And what kind of rumors might those be?"

I could pretty much guess the content, but I asked anyway.

He shrugged as if to say, "Oh well."

"Once known as an unconventional prodigy unbound by common sense, now, after your exploits in the Battle of the Narrow Fortress, you're being called the 'Unconventional Rising Star.' I must say, at first, I thought the rumors were quite exaggerated. But..."

Clarence leaned forward, his expression turning serious.

"Meeting you in person, I realize the rumors are not to be taken lightly. I must admit, I'm quite impressed."

His sudden change in demeanor caused Diana, who was standing behind me, to tense up.

At the same time, the aura of the burly man who was likely Clarence's bodyguard also shifted, becoming more guarded.

Amid the prickly atmosphere, I raised my left hand slightly to signal to Diana that it was okay, then smiled at him.

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

"Of course."

He nodded, his expression softening.

Just as Chris had said, he's an elusive character.

If this continues, I might get swept up in the atmosphere and flow he's creating.

I cleared my throat to reset the conversation.

"Shall we get down to business? What brings you here to see me without any prior arrangement?"

"To be frank, I don't have any particular 'business' to discuss."

"...Huh?"

Visiting a noble without an appointment, let alone summoning them by name, is an act of considerable rudeness.

It could even warrant being banned from future visits.

But the man before me is the merchant Chris described as a 'shady character.'

There must be some intention behind his words.

As I tried to gauge his true motives, he narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"Heh, if I had to say, I wanted to express my 'gratitude.'"

"Gratitude? But I don't recall doing anything that would warrant thanks from you, Clarence."

"No, no. You defeated the former Grand Duke family, didn't you? You see, after the incident with the slaves sold to the Christie Trading Company, things around me became quite chaotic for a while."

Clarence began to recount the events in Balst.

When the issue of the Baldia family protecting the beastkin children became a problem in the empire, in Balst, the one who had sold them to the Christie Trading Company—Clarence—became the target of criticism.

"I have a wide range of business dealings, and as a result, I have many rivals. They seized the opportunity to stir up trouble. But then the Battle of the Narrow Fortress happened, and the Baldia family, along with Lord Ammon, emerged victorious, establishing the new Grand Duke family. Thanks to that, the troublemakers quieted down. I must say, it was a great relief."

"Is that so? I had no idea you were in such a situation. But if our family was able to help in any way, I'm glad."

Using my 'Electric Field' to sense his intentions, I couldn't detect any hostility or malice in his words.

But I still feel like there's more to it.

As I cautiously continued the conversation, Clarence glanced at the window in the room.

"Before coming here, I took the liberty of touring the towns and roads within the Baldia territory. It's truly a remarkable domain. The road maintenance, the charcoal-powered vehicles, the delicious cuisine, and various other novel cultural aspects are quite impressive."

"Thank you. But our family is still in the process of development.   I hope to achieve even greater progress in the coming years."

Hearing my words, Clarence's eyes gleamed as he leaned forward.

"Hmm, that's a fascinating prospect. I would love to hear more about it."

"Unfortunately, I can't share the details with someone who isn't affiliated with our family. I hope you understand."

"Heh, I thought as much."

He shrugged regretfully, then shifted the topic.

"Lord Ridd, you truly live up to your reputation as an unconventional figure. I didn't expect such courteous treatment from you, especially since I came here unannounced, with no prior arrangement."

"Is that so? But you're acquainted with Chris, aren't you? That means you're not just 'some random person.' Besides, opportunities often arise from new encounters and connections. I believe there's meaning in our meeting, at least to some extent."

In the end, the world revolves around people.

No matter who someone is, you can't truly understand them without meeting and talking to them directly.

And without such encounters, the chances of stumbling upon opportunities diminish.

So, it's important to actively build connections.

Especially with individuals who show promise.

"My, what a splendid perspective. However, speaking with you, Lord ridd, feels like conversing with an adult in a child's body. Could it be that you're the reincarnation of Saint Mistina from the Toga scriptures... or something?"

"Wha—? Haha, the reincarnation of a saint? That's just a fairy tale, isn't it?"

Clarence's suggestive gaze and tone sent a chill down my spine.

I don't know much about the Toga scriptures or Saint Mistina, but since I have memories of a past life, his remark isn't entirely off the mark.

"Oh? Are you not familiar with the story of Saint Mistina Martel?"

"Ah, well, not in great detail."

Mistina Martel was a figure who performed various miracles during her lifetime, earning her the title of saint. After her death, she was revered as a goddess in Toga.

But since there were no Mistina scriptures in the study, I don't know much beyond that.

"Is that so? Well, the empire doesn't hold the Mistina faith in high regard. However, if Baldia is to continue its development, I recommend familiarizing yourself with it. The faith is widely spread in Balst, Zubera, and Toga."

"I-I see. I'll ask my father about it later."

If I expressed interest in the Mistina faith, my father would probably frown deeply.

"Now, lastly, please take this."

As I tried to laugh it off, he took an envelope from his burly bodyguard and handed it to me.

"This is...?"

When I accepted it, he smiled warmly.

"Please take a look inside. I'm sure you'll find it to your liking."

"...Very well, I'll take a look."

I opened the envelope with suspicion and found a stack of documents inside.

What is this?

As I carefully pulled them out, I saw a long list of names, followed by what appeared to be transaction records.

When I read the contents labeled 'Transaction Records,' I realized what these documents were.

"To think you'd bring something like this... You really had the nerve to say you had 'no business' earlier."

"Not at all, I wasn't lying at the beginning. With all due respect, the decision to hand those documents to you, Lord Lidd, was made right here and now."

Clarence smirked, as if revealing his true nature.

What he had given me was a compilation of the business dealings of the fox tribe and the Elba faction—nobles who had likely conducted their trade through Balst.